Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1887-01-13
THE STATES DEFENDERS.

Interesting JOttinss From the Vale
dictory Report of Adjutant Genera
smfth-Features OF the Report-Gen
Smiths Retirement After Twenty.
Nine Years of Military Service.
The adjutant generals annual report just
submitted to the Governor shows interesting
facts and figures as follows: The strength of
the National Guard July 1, 1885, was 1884
| officers and men. The strength at this date
is 2, 244 officers and men, a loss of 90 men.
During the last fiscal year twenty Off
GERS have resigned. two officers have been
discharged and their commissions revoked,
| and the appointments of four officers have
been revoked and they have been discharged
There we're no deaths of officers. The num-
Der of enlisted men discharged during the
year is 693, classified as follows: Expiration
of term Of service, 35S; non-residence, 229;
disability, %; benefit of the service, 81; dis
honorab1y Gin accordance with sentences of
field officers court-rnartiaD, IA; died, Is.
There were 69S enlistments and five officers
have been appointed from civil life. Twenty
eight enlisted men have been promoted to be
commissioned officers. The term of service
of 291 men will expire prior to July l. 1887, |
which with the necessary discharges for other !
reasons indicates that commanding officers |
must attend to the subject of recruiting. But |
few companies now number the maximum |
of membership, which is sixty-seven. |
With the present number of companies |
the membership of the National Guard |
could be increased to 2, 10 officers and |
men.
General Smith recommends that such steps
be taken at the General Assembly as to fully |
legalize the organization of the Machine gun
plstoons, one of which is attached to each of |
the four regiments and is important ad-
dition to the military arms of the State.
The report compliments the services of
Colonel Tubbs of the Third and Captain Lee
of Battery A, who resigned after faithful and
efficient service last year. The retiring ad-
jutant general is confirmed in his good opin-
ion of the Figure of merit" system proven
by the results in its stimulation of the inter-
est in the drill room and the impetus given
to wholesome competition. The First regi-
ment is armed with the United States Spring
field breech- loading rifle, calibre forty-ive,
and the Second, Third and Fourth regiments
and Fifth battalion with the Peabody breech-
loading rife of same calibre. Both are pro
nounced efficient and reliable weapons. The
iatlings, though not of the latest improved
design, are in good condition. The report |
reviews the encampment at Mantle last year |
and other military events of the year. 1t pro-
1ounces the discipline of the G. N. G. as good, |
out too little attention is paid to the require
nents of military etiquette, which lies with
he officers to correct. AS TO the new uni
orms of the G. n. G. the report Says, after | .
detailing the steps leading to ordering them, |
hat under the terms of the contract the d
National Guard should be completely re-
Uniformed before the expiration of the pres
mt year, and thus during your administra-
ion the National Guard will be completely
.quipped with new helmets, forage caps,
iress coats, blouses and trousers ont of the
ocular military appropriations without ask
ng for a special appropriation for the pur-
,ose. The returns of the military enroll
nent show that there are 70, 730 in the State T
liable to do military duty, and of this num-
er 56, 956 are assessed the communication tax.
he amount to be collected by the State
treasurer will be about $103, 900, a small in
rease over last year. :,
The report states that there is now reason +
D expect that the desired sea coast battery |
Or the State camp ground will be completed
4 tine for the coming encampment, thus
flowing the troops to be instructed in heavy E
rtillery drill during the week. A detail of 4
United States officer to give the necessary
is recommended.